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  • Create a Wheelchair for Difficult Terrain and Unexpected Environments
Computer-generated illustration terrain obstacles like stairs and brick surfaces, with wheelchair parts like tires, seats, and frames, and a close-up of a wheelchair and user for rough terrain.

Head to Instructables to design your high accessibility wheelchair for difficult terrain and unexpected environments. © Smithsonian; image by Tim Pula

Create a Wheelchair for Difficult Terrain and Unexpected Environments

June 7, 2022 by Lemelson Center

Design a wheelchair that will help the user navigate challenging terrain or environments or participate in sporting activities.

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Welcome to Spark!Lab digital. This is an online invention space where you get to be the inventor. There are no wrong answers, and you can create an invention using the pieces provided—or create some pieces of your own. Think like an inventor: how does your design solve a problem?

Using Tinkercad, you can delete, reshape, and duplicate elements—and you can create new parts, too.

  • Think about these questions while you work on your invention:
  • Where will your wheelchair be used?
  • How will its design help the user navigate challenging terrain or environments?
  • Who will use your wheelchair? Is your wheelchair designed for use in any sporting activities?
  • What types of materials will be used to make your wheelchair?
  • What makes your wheelchair go, motors, muscle power or something else?
  1. SUPPLIES

    Free Tinkercad account 

    Inventive creativity 

    "Create a Wheelchair for Difficult Terrain and Environments" parts from the Tinkercad website

     

  2. INVENTION IS A PROCESS

    There are just two things to keep in mind as you design your high accessibility wheelchair for difficult terrain and unexpected environments:

    1. The invention process is not always linear, but inventors engage in these steps in some form or another: 

    Think it: Have a great idea for an invention

    Explore it: Investigate inventions and ideas of the past

    Sketch it: Draw pictures and diagrams to figure out how your invention might work

    Create it: Build a prototype or model of your idea

    Try it: Test your invention

    Tweak it: Keep improving your idea

    Sell it: Market your invention to people who might buy it

    2. We also know everyone is inventive—and we do mean everyone! Today, you become the inventor. You will try new ideas, take risks, and learn how to keep going when things don’t go as planned.

  3. Explore some resources

    Take a look at types of wheelchairs and innovations related to their use and design: 

    Wheelchair-related objects in the Smithsonian's collection.

    Hear the story of extreme wheelchair athlete Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham.

    Watch the story of Marilyn Hamilton's invention of the Quickie Wheelchair.

    Watch this video to see an inventor's wheelchair, designed for dance and fluid movement.

    Learn more about the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

    Read about the World Health Organization's guidelines on the provision of manual wheelchairs in less resourced setting. 

     

  4. Now head over to Instructables to start inventing with Tinkercad!

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